Lausanne, Switzerland – 25 April 2026 – The International World Games Association (IWGA) is pleased to announce that the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has been granted membership status within the organisation. The decision was taken by the IWGA Members during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne on 25 April 2026.
Following a review process of the application submitted, IWGA Members voted to approve FIDE’s admission. With this decision, the number of IWGA Member Federations increases to 40.
FIDE’s inclusion represents an important step in the continued development and diversification of the IWGA, further strengthening its global reach and the range of sports represented within The World Games Movement. As the international governing body for chess, FIDE brings a well-established global structure and a strong community of players and stakeholders.
IWGA CEO, Joachim Gossow, welcomed the decision, stating:
“We are very pleased to welcome FIDE as a Member of the IWGA. Chess is one of the most widely practised and recognised disciplines worldwide, and its inclusion reflects our commitment to embracing a diverse range of sports, including mind sports, within our organisation.”
FIDE President, Arkady Dvorkovich, stated:
“Chess is a truly global sport that unites millions of players across all continents through strategy, discipline, and creativity. Its inclusion within the IWGA reflects the growing recognition of mind sports alongside traditional athletic disciplines and the shared values of excellence, fair play, and international exchange. We are very excited for this new chapter and the opportunities it will bring for the continued development of chess within the international sporting movement.”
The IWGA looks forward to collaborating with FIDE and exploring future opportunities within The World Games framework.
About IWGA
The International World Games Association (IWGA) is a non-profit-making international sports organisation recognised and supported by the International Olympic Committee. The IWGA comprises 40 International Member Sports Federations. It administers and promotes The World Games (TWG), a multi-sport event held every four years that features popular, traditional, emerging, and trend sports on its programme. The World Games 2025 took place in Chengdu (CHN) from 7-17 August 2025. 4,000 athletes from more than 110 countries took part in this 12th edition. The World Games 2029 will take place in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 19-29 July 2029, 40 years after it hosted TWG in 1989.
Official website: https://www.theworldgames.org/